Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, California is the cultural center of Santa Cruz. Students, tourists, local people, celebrities (like the Slow Walking Man In Pink from this picture) stroll along, drink coffee, smoke 420 hours a day. The atmosphere is extremely peaceful and relaxed; people play music and sing. On weekends, in the beginning of Pacific Avenue, near Jamba Juice cafe, representatives of local Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking population have dance contests. Several book stores and independent movie theaters add to the sophisticated atmosphere. Down the avenue, closer to the Ocean, weird hippie stores offer weird stuff (t-shirts, for tourists).

During 1989's Loma Prieta earthquake several buildings along Pacific Avenue were destroyed; now the sites are covered with weed and tasteful murals.